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Therapeutic Peptides under the Spotlight
Catherine Pichereau and Claude Allary at Bionest explore the challenges, trends and opportunities within a sector receiving increasing attention
Catherine Pichereau is a Finance Practice Leader for Bionest Partners, an independent boutique offering consulting and advisory services for health care companies. Since joining Bionest Partners in January 2004, Catherine has been committed to the development of the financial advisory franchise. Catherine began her career in the corporate finance teams of Robertson Stephens (London, UK) and Bank of America Securities (London, UK), entirely dedicated to health care. She worked on M&A and private placement transactions for European companies, including biotechs, specialty pharma and medtechs. Catherine graduated from HEC business school (Paris, France) with additional qualifications from the Stockholm School of Economics (Stockholm, Sweden) and the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration (Vienna, Austria). Claude Allary is a founding Managing Partner of Bionest Partners. After 17 years spent in the international pharmaceutical industry with Rhône-Poulenc, Parke-Davis and Glaxo plc London, where his last position was Director, International CNS Product Development, he moved into management consulting in 1991. He spent eight years with Arthur D Little in London, Brussels and Paris, followed by four years with ISO Health Care Group (part of the Monitor Group of companies) before founding Bionest Partners in 2002. Claude has been involved in over 130 consulting projects spanning R&D, strategy and organisation in pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics. He is a frequent contributor to professional journals and congresses.

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AN EMERGING MARKET The therapeutic peptides market emerged in the 1970s, when Novartis launched Lypressin, a vasopressin analogue. Since then, approximately 30 peptides have reached the market, representing a €5.3 billion opportunity in 2003 (over 1.5 per cent of the €325 billion global pharmaceutical market). Among the different classes of peptides, GNRH/LHRH agonists (leuprorelin, goserelin) account for almost 50 per cent of the market. Other key commercialised peptides include sandostatin (somatostatin analogue, Novartis), glatiramer (immunomodulator peptide, Teva), salmon calcitonin (Miacalcin, Novartis) and desmopressin (DDAVP, Ferring) (see Figure 1).

Peptides are an interesting bet for R&D companies. Their role as mediators of key biological functions and their unique intrinsic properties make them particularly attractive therapeutic agents: peptides show high biological activity associated with low toxicity and high specificity. The benefits conferred by these characteristics include little unspecific binding to molecular structures other than the desired target, minimisation of drug-drug interactions and less accumulation in tissues reducing risks of complications due to intermediate metabolites. Additionally, compared to small molecules, peptides offer valuable chemical and biological diversity on which intellectual property is still widely available. As a result, even the big pharmaceutical companies, traditionally focused on small molecules, are increasingly considering peptides in their pipelines (for example Pfizer, GSK and Lilly have recently acquired peptide-based products).

Hence. Polypeptide Laboratories. efforts are being made to optimise current synthesis methods. they could reach cumulated peak sales of over €2 billion. Most are based in the US (American Peptide Company. and Diosynth. NeoMPS. which solely address the small quantity early-stage peptide segment with non-GMP production services (milligrams to hundreds of grams). They can typically produce peptide APIs throughout Phase IIa but are not usually able to support Phase III and commercial projects. Phoenix Pharmaceuticals and so on). thereby contributing to the development of a specialised peptide CMO market. Four other CMOs are also competing in the large-scale production of peptides. which are also subject to high risk levels: R&D projects’ attrition rates. The company boasts a quickly growing franchise of commercial products. Today.Figure 3: Therapeutic Peptide Market Growth (03-13)
11. increasingly challenging Bachem. is believed to rank third. a subsidiary of Belgium-based chemical and pharmaceutical group Solvay. CMOs have no choice but to dedicate resources to constantly innovate. a subsidiary of French-based chemicals and energetic materials company SNPE. R&D companies increasingly outsource the production of their peptides to contract manufacturers. however in fewer quantities than large CMOs (up to a few kilograms). UCB Bioproducts. As it happens. is the likely runner-up. the product of the recent merger between Neosystem (France) and Multiple Peptide System (US). is the current market leader with approximately €100 million in sales. which would represent almost 50 per cent of the current market size. the peptide API contract manufacturing market is fairly fragmented. For regular
. namely Lonza. consolidation should also take place between large CMOs. mainly located in the US and in Europe (a few are located in Asia). which can only handle a small number of commercial contracts simultaneously due to the large capacity utilisation they imply. usually referred to as ‘garage companies’. Peptisyntha. Seven large CMOs capture most of the market as only they can supply the high revenue-generating Phase III and commercial peptide API quantities required by R&D companies (up to several hundreds of kilograms). a Swiss public chemicals company. To survive and grow. As illustrated by NeoMPS. demand volatility and so on. Several so-called ‘midsized’ CMOs are also present on the market: they offer non-GMP as well as GMP production. INNOVATIONS TO COMBAT BOTTLENECKS
Generics
5. large CMOs should look to diversify their customer base while increasing their production capacity. Based on several analyst estimates. Three main categories of peptide CMOs can be distinguished based on production capacity (see Figure 4). Nasdaq). First and foremost. a Swiss public company entirely dedicated to peptide contract manufacturing activities. a division of Belgium-based UCB Group. Last but not least. Praecis Pharmaceuticals (PRCS.5 billion (CAGR + 8. Consolidation can help to do just that. production capacity often remains a bottleneck for large CMOs. AnaSpec. CS Bio. a Danish private company with a stronger focus on research ingredients and generics catalogues. a large part of their revenues is often heavily dependent on just a few contracts. Nasdaq). Over 100 have been identified to date. THE NEED FOR PEPTIDE API CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS TO CONSOLIDATE Mostly due to significant capital expenditure requirements.1%)
(MDCO. to reduce such exposure. the market is also served by many small structures. Nasdaq) and Amylin Pharmaceuticals (AMLN. with several key clients including The Medicines Company
Figure 4: Positioning of Peptide API Contract Manufacturers
Preclinical/Phase I
Phase II/III/Registration
NCEs
Large players Mid-sized players ‘Garage’ companies
Source: Bionest
The battle to earn market share is fierce and likely to remain so. Bachem. an Akzo Nobel business unit.3 billion
2003
2013
Source: Bionest
stage. As a result. and is thereby in a position to gradually impose its leadership.

Catching other CMOs off guard. several bottlenecks are hampering these processes. Innovative technologies are being developed in this area.5 billion anti-ageing cosmeceuticals industry. CMOs could adopt a hybrid model combining a therapeutic peptide API contract services offering with the internal development of innovative cosmetics. but peptides also raise substantial interest in another health-related industry: the $3. Indeed. specific synergies come to mind: CMOs benefit from privileged access to many peptides developed for therapeutic indications. Three main methods have been developed so far: the solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) or merrifield synthesis. amino-acids and resins required generally drives CMO costs up. Therapeutic Peptides. Results came quickly: several peptides have now been launched on the market: Argireline (Lipotec). is also developing two lines of peptides for use in skin creams and OTC anti-ageing products: Prolifersyn. However. Several CMOs are now developing new technologies to fill this gap: synthetic and recombinant (the latter being applicable to natural peptides only). Mixed phase synthesis is currently preferred. However. Would R&D companies want to retain absolutely all intellectual property rights on their prospective peptides knowing that they will focus solely on therapeutic indications? Or would they be willing to grant licenses covering cosmetic applications? An opportunity may very well lie here. recently declared that peptides were “the new weapon against ageing and wrinkles” . Lonza was recently the first to apply recombinant technologies to peptide APIs. How could CMOs generate value from cosmetic peptides? As cosmetic companies buy peptides and use them at very low concentrations. Let’s for example consider the SPPS method: synthesis starts by attaching the first amino acid onto the resin. CMOs are also looking beyond synthetic technologies. Indeed. In this respect. relinking and rewashing steps. a family of selected peptide fragments which stimulate collagen production. will Lonza convince late-stage and commercial R&D companies to switch to recombinant technologies? Despite significant potential in the synthesis of long peptide APIs (they best achieve folding. the high quantity of solvents. N The author can be contacted at catherine@bionest. A NEW VALUE MODEL FOR CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS? Could CMOs capture more value from peptides than they actually get from manufacturing services? This article outlines the potential of peptides in the pharmaceutical industry. Still. which appears fairly time-consuming. In addition. They are increasingly investigating peptides. Efforts thus currently focus on improving productivity and costs. and Stimulysin. a US dermatologist specialising in anti-ageing treatments. This method thus involves a large series of deprotecting. which offer high potency at low dosages. chemical synthesis remains the gold standard. production processes are deemed complex and product quality can sometimes be debated.5 billion anti-ageing cosmeceuticals industry. then additional amino acids are added one after another. but does not enable the efficient production of such peptides. Spanish-based Lipotec may very well lead the way. recently declared that peptides were “the new weapon against ageing and wrinkles”. cosmetic companies’ ambition is to develop products with active ingredients that can rival the results of laser treatments or surgical facelifts
size peptides (50 residues). recombinant technologies are still in the making: besides non-negligible regulatory hurdles. but peptides also raise substantial interest in another health-related industry: the $3. Some may have strong potential as cosmetics. pure cosmetic peptide CMO activities may not pay off. a US dermatologist specialising in anti-ageing treatments. re-deprotecting. Matrixyl (Sederma) and Myoxinol (Cognis) – all Botox alternatives. washing. linking. Another synthesis bottleneck is often the lyophilisation step. and requires regular monitoring. the manufacturer entered the peptide API contract manufacturing market as the only CMO offering recombinant technologies.com
. thereby climbing up the value chain. The production of longer peptides (100-150 residues) is also a challenge for CMOs. a family of small peptides that stimulate healing and destroy bacteria. Dr Patricia Farris. reagents. a private US company. the homogeneous phase peptide synthesis (HPPS) and the mixed phase synthesis (combination of solid and solution phase synthesis).Could CMOs capture more value from peptides than they actually get from manufacturing services? This article outlines the potential of peptides in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr Patricia Farris. cosmetic companies’ ambition is to develop products with active ingredients that can rival the results of laser treatments or surgical facelifts. essential for a long peptide/protein to be biologically active) as well as the production of large quantities of peptide APIs (late-stage and commercial peptides).